Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts
phone number online
I gave out a fake number via email to people I was talking to online. I got an email from someone (apparently the owner of the number I gave out) and he said my email address is currently under investigation because I gave out this person's number and they were getting many calls and texts. The person said they will see me in court and at the very least I would have to pay their lawyer's bills. Is this possible or were they making this up?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: phone number online
It is possible. In this modern age, I would take such a case under the Massachusetts privacy laws. I would make the aggrieved party pay my fees up front, though, regardless of any claim for fee-shifting.
You have recklessly, or at least negligently, violated this other person's privacy. You may also have cause what amounts to telephone harassment, and a creative police force or DA's office might want to consider charging you (I am theorizing, not looking at the statute to determine whether this is possible). You may have cost the recipient of YOUR telephone harassment by proxy money depending on the terms of his or her phone service.
The next time you want to be anonymous, don't give out ANY phone number.
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